Startup Advice from Jeni Britton

Sharing your personal journey can make your brand more relatable. Jenny Britton encourages founders to use their own stories.

\"I just want to say like when you said I'm a full-time scientist at UCLA, like I want to hear that... people invest in you, even consumers and customers, like they want to know that like, oh, this came from somebody who really cares and really knows what they're doing.\"

• Personal stories build trust and relatability.
• Authentic founders attract customer support.

PR firms can be expensive and may not always yield results. Jenny Britton shares caution on hiring PR agencies.

\"PR firms can be really awesome. But you have to have somebody, you have to have somebody at that firm who is your champion, who adores you, who believes in you... Otherwise it falls flat and you just, you kind of go nowhere and it's very expensive.\"

• PR firms need genuine champions of your brand.
• In-house solutions may be more cost-effective initially.

Authenticity resonates with audiences. Jenny Britton advises founders to personally engage on social media.

\"People like authenticity... you're such an authentic person, I can tell... people like that realness...Just start doing it, and then part of social media too, a big part of it is just talking to everybody else.\"

• Personal engagement builds genuine connections.
• Authenticity enhances your brand and attracts loyalty.

Effective communication is vital for startup success. Jenny Britton underscores the need for a strong communication strategy.

\"That was something that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out. And it would have been really, really cool to have somebody who could just come and say, here, here's what you're doing really well. This is what people are resonating with...\"

• Clear messaging connects with customers.
• A communication expert can refine your strategy.

Founders often need support beyond their immediate team. Jenny Britton emphasizes the importance of having the right advisors.

\"I would have had definitely on my side... a coach, a business advisor... and then I would just say a great attorney. As a founder, you know... you do need to have kind of your own really great attorney just to have somebody to ask questions.\"

• A coach and advisor guide leadership and strategy.
• A dedicated attorney helps navigate legal matters.

Having experienced advisors can guide strategic growth. Jenny Britton shares her experience on the value of a board.

\"Organizing a board made us prepare for meetings, tell everybody what we're doing every month, and it helped us organize together as a team.\"

• A board provides expertise and accountability.
• Regular meetings keep the team organized and goal-focused.

While external capital can accelerate growth, it often comes with trade-offs. Jenny Britton highlights the importance of maintaining control in your company.

\"I think that entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs for a reason, and that's because we like to do things our way and differently... And when you bring in outside capital, you lose all of that.\"

• Taking external capital can lead to loss of control over your company's direction.
• Weigh the benefits against the potential impact on your vision and autonomy.

Raising capital can dilute control and change company dynamics. Jenny Britton discusses alternative funding methods to sustain growth.

\"Have you looked into like SBA and bank loans because I think, you know, the thing is we don't really ever talk about that and it can be such an incredible resource...\"

• Consider alternative funding like SBA or bank loans to retain control.
• Growing methodically helps maintain ownership without external pressures.

Jenny Britton emphasizes the power of sampling and direct engagement for startups with limited budgets.

\"Have you tried sampling? I mean, do you have air fryers set up in some of these grocery stores and just handing out hot french fry while you're shopping for groceries? I mean, my God.\"

• Sampling lets customers try your product, boosting sales.
• Direct engagement builds brand loyalty with minimal cost.

Jenny Britton highlights how choosing a smaller market for your startup can boost success.

\"When you're in a smaller, small to mid-sized city, the city gets behind it in a different way. You can really try things and also fail a lot, and people still stick with you. And of course, the cost of doing business is lower.\"

• Smaller markets have lower costs, allowing more investment in your product.
• Supportive communities in smaller cities help you try, fail, and still retain customer loyalty.